The fine balance between healthy and unhealthy. Very important you all read this

I honestly believe that there is always a fine balance between being healthy and unhealthy. Just roll with me on this one.

Health is a spectrum from unhealthy to healthy or the other way around. However, if we become obsessed with being healthy it can lead to really horrible things like eating disorders, extreme exercising, etc etc. The media is obsessed with losing weight, exercising, not being obese....etc etc. If we aren't careful, we can turn a good thing into a monster. Trust me, I've been down that path and it's not worth it.

We as a society are so obsessed with weight loss. We think that healthy means "skinny" when really healthy is much more than just what the number says on the scale. I have mentioned this a thousand times over. You can have a high percentage of body fat and still be skinny. However, having too much fat on our bodies is what typically leads to all of these health problems we are facing today. So I get it that it can be hypercritical to say exercise, but not too much...eat less, but not too little. But honesty, we all know when we are hungry and when we are full. We don't need to count calories to figure that out.

I've heard of way too many people who have developed unhealthy eating and exercise habits from what started as something healthy. They become obsessed about calories, exercise, and not allowing themselves to enjoy life. I will say it again, it's not worth it.

Eating disorders are deadly. People die from them. It's not just about losing weight or throwing up. It's a disease of the mind that manifests itself in physical form. There are 6 year olds diagnosed with eating disorders and also 86 year olds that are still battling with an eating disorder since they were a teenager. It's really a sad disorder.

SO it's not about the scale...it's about how you are taking care of yourself.

Be nice to your body. Feed it...nourish it with vitamins and minerals from fruits and veggies that will allow your body to function properly. Move your body...let it get some activity. Our muscles need that to keep themselves healthy. Find healthy ways to manage your LIFE. Not just your stress....good and bad things happen in everyone's life. Find ways to MANAGE YOUR EMOTIONS. Respect yourself and your body.

Having said this, please be cautious when you are talking to others about their weight or your own weight. Especially parents...you guys have no idea how much you affect your children...they hear everything you say, regardless if you think they heard you. So be aware of what you say around others. You never know who you are positively or negatively impacting.

If you think that someone in your life may be suffering from an eating disorder...go to www.NEDA.org and check out all of the info they have. They have a hotline for you or anyone else (suffering or not) to call.

Oh. And you are beautiful the way you are. Just needed to say that.

Tips on how to get a workout in EVERY DAY!

Hey all! Here is my weekly post...and since I just saw a woman walking with hand weights and doing biceps curls...she inspired me to write a post on how to get a workout in every day. SOMEHOW. :) Let's face it...we don't have much time to workout in our days anymore. I've included some tips to address this as well.

HOW to get a work out in everyday:

The best way:

Wake up n the morning and work out. Put your clothes and shoes out the night before...wake up, get dressed...and GO. The reason I say this is best is because then it is done and over with before you even eat breakfast or go to work. Plus, you have less excuses and reasons to not go in the morning. TIRED? Aren't we tired no matte what time we wake up? SO that's not a good excuse. Working out in the AM is also a great way to wake yourself up...it sets a really positive tone for the day. You will also be less likely to eat poorly if you set yourself up for a healthy day the minute you wake up.

I get up at 5:25AM each morning and put on my clothes and work out.I put out my clothes the night before so all I have to do is throw them on and go. Mon-Fri...no matter what. If I'm tired, I just tell myself...this is the only time you can fit this in...so it kind of just forces me out of bed. I feel SO much more awake and feel better once my workout is done.

If you are one of those people who are great at making excuses/reasons not to exercise or just have so many other things that can happen in the day...THIS is the time to get your exercise in...THE MORNING.

2) LUNCH TIME. Most people take a lunch break. SO eat while you work either before or after your break...and work out during your break. Just get in and get out...don't waste time in the gym or outside (wherever you are exercising). It can be a little more difficult to workout during this time in the day because meetings/hw/life happen.

3) EVENING. Get home and get moving. One pro of working out at night is that you can really use your frustrations/any other emotions to really get in a great workout. Your work is done for the day...and now it's you time. The con for working out at night...most people just want to relax at the end of the day..plus, if you are a parent, things are bound to come up.

PICK one of these to start with and see how it works. Everyone has their peaks in energy at different times of the day...mine is mid morning but I am in school mid morning so I have to workout before school. And I know how I am at night...not interested in working out.

THEN figure out what you want to do. Do you only have time for 30 min? 1 hour? Take a walk? Run? Lift? Figure all of this out the DAY BEFORE so you don't waste time wandering around the gym or sitting there trying to figure out what you want to do. PLAN PLAN PLAN.

LASTLY DO the workout. Do what you planned unless you felt like doing something else.

It's that easy. We are all busy but it is those who plan and are motivated that fit it in.